Page 24 - Engineering

Keen-eyed readers might have noticed that our 2019 Ford Ranger has been going through some changes lately. It's gotten a bit taller thanks to a 3.5" lift kit from BDS Suspension and a set of KMC wheels with Dick Cepek 33" Trail Country EXP tires. We've also added 3,150 lumens to the front end with a Baja Designs Squadron LED light kit. Less evident in photos are the performance upgrades we've made. Under the hood, the Ranger's boost is controlled by a Turbosmart Kompact plumb back bypass valve, and under the dash, we're squeezing all the power we can get out of the 2.3L EcoBoost thanks to an SCT tuner.

All of these modifications make our Ranger look good and a lot more fun to drive, but they serve a purpose in R&D as well. We chose these upgrades because we know our customers

So, you're ready to pull the trigger and get an intercooler, but all of the options available are overwhelming. How do you choose? Looking at the end tanks of an intercooler can be a great place to start. Once you determine the type of end tank that fits your needs, you can narrow down the endless options making selection much more straightforward.

There can be several failures caused by poor end-tank design, so we want to make sure that you have the information you need to make the right decision when choosing your intercooler. Selecting the correct type of end tank can help shape the long-term reliability of your upgrade and can also play a significant role in actual airflow through your core. If your end tank design is not efficient at moving the airflow your vehicle generates, you won't be able to take full advantage of that awesome intercooler you selected.

Plastic

Plastic end tanks are

The last few years have solidified Honda's turbo generation. Sure, there have been sprinklings in the past, but the 2016 Civic was a gateway to the flood of turboed Hondas, including the darling mid-sized sedan, the Accord. The 2.0T variant stole the show with boasting CTR-esque power in a big cushy sedan, but let's face it, as good as the 2.0T is, the 1.5T is going to be the Accord for the masses. Even with the smaller displacement, there's still plenty of available power and efficiency that lend the 1.5T Accord for being a great all-around sedan and robust platform with tons of potential. Granted, for most owners, bone stock is perfect for their daily commutes, but some want to squeeze even more performance out of their Accord, starting with an intake.

The L15B7, more commonly known as the 1.5T, is, for the most part, shared between the core of Honda's current lineup, specifically this Accord, the CR-H, HR-V, and the Civic. The Accord received the second most potent iteration of the

PERFORMANCE HEAT EXCHANGER, FITS TOYOTA GR SUPRA 3.0L, 2020+

It's hard not to be a showoff behind the wheel of the A90 Supra, and we can't exactly blame you either. The car begs to be thrashed, and resisting the exhaust pops is futile. The namesake is one that demands attention (ISSAT A SUPRA?!), all wrapped up in a sleek, not exactly subtle body design. The fact is, the Supra is showy, and that's fine. We're just as eager to be just as showy with our new means of reducing the intercooler temperatures in the form of a performance heat exchanger. So, rather than getting existential about the Supra, let's just dive right in. Without further adieu (drumroll please), we'll let some of these photos speak for themselves.

The first and most apparent revision

Think about the last time you bought a product that was "Universal" or "One Size Fits All." How well did it actually fit your needs, and how much adjustment was needed for it to work correctly? When it comes to the flagship of Volkswagen's MQB platform, it's a similar situation. These days it's almost impossible to go anywhere without spotting VW's hardest working hot-hatch, the GTI or Golf R. Still, given that the modular platform means shared parts between the smaller Golf TSI, MK7 Jetta, Tiguan, and a myriad of SEATs and Skodas, there can be some things left to be desired, specifically when it comes to keeping the MK7s cool. Luckily, we here at Mishimoto are already hard at work on a fresh new radiator design.

Before we get into just how we plan on improving on the MK7's cooling system, let's dive into the design that VW fitted to these vehicles. Depending on the year, and transmission in your MK7, just every system relies on the primary radiator to keep the temperatures

Engines get a lot of press these days. Every manufacturer wants to flaunt their latest, most fuel-efficient, technologically advanced, or powerful engine yet. The hype is even more prominent when manufacturers make drastic changes to a long-standing model, like the 2018+ Jeep Wrangler.

When FCA announced the 2018+ Wrangler JL in late 2017, all the journalists were clamoring for headlines on the new 2.0L, turbocharged, mild-hybrid engine. How would the mild hybrid perform offroad? Would the turbo lag make it a dog in stop and go traffic? What about that 24-volt power system? Everybody forgot about the 3.6L Pentastar that's powered the Wrangler, and over 20 other models, for almost a decade. But the 3.6L Pentastar wasn't the only thing forgotten in the fanfare over the new 2.0T.

TRANSMISSION COOLER, FITS TOYOTA GR SUPRA 3.0L, 2020+

There's just something special about sitting basically on the pavement in your sports coupe, gear lever in one hand, rev-matching 100% of the time simply because you have the option. For us automotive purists, that is the dream, which is why it seems almost blasphemous to resurrect one of the most legendary names in the sports car segment without the opportunity for us to row through the gears manually.

In the A90 Supra, Toyota and BMW decided that we humans wouldn't be able to manually shift as efficiently as the Supra needed so that responsibility is up to the ZF 8HP automatic transmission. If we're honest, it almost makes you forget that you're missing the 3rd pedal at your feet. Lightning-fast changes in the planetary gear sets know what you're thinking quicker than you do, and add a degree of smoothness that is typically sacrificed in a dual-clutch. However, as advanced as ZF's

PERFORMANCE ALUMINUM RADIATOR KIT, FITS TOYOTA GR SUPRA 3.0L, 2020+

Team: a group of persons associated in work or activity, striving for a common goal. Yes, the auxiliary coolers on the 2020+ Toyota Supra aren't what you'd consider being "persons," but the sentiment remains. Keeping the B58 operating within temperature is a group effort, and all members, no matter how small, do their part. These auxiliary radiators play an essential role in the cooling process at each end of the spectrum, so it' only makes sense that they would also receive a similar overhaul to our primary radiator.

PERFORMANCE ALUMINUM RADIATOR KIT, FITS TOYOTA GR SUPRA 3.0L, 2020+

The Toyota Supra is essentially the definition of automotive athleticism. It's compact, agile, makes all of the right sounds, and the B58 is more than willing to give you a sharp shove back into the driver's seat at a moment's notice.  Though BMW/Toyota designed the Supra to be a top performer, even the most well-trained athletes can still succumb to the brutal heat. We here at Mishimoto already have the plans to keep the Supra running at peak performance.

If you remember back to our first post, and if you saw the sneak preview in our heat exchanger post, you might already know that it's a group effort when it comes to cool this B58. The front end of the Supra houses a squadron of different heat exchangers